Noah exits the ark, offers sacrifice, and God establishes the covenant with the rainbow sign. The blood prohibition is given — no eating blood, for blood is life. The chapter then delivers an extensive defense of the 364-day solar calendar, condemning those who follow lunar reckoning. The Feast of Weeks (Shavuot) is traced back to Noah's covenant and linked to the covenant with Abraham.
This chapter contains Jubilees' most explicit calendar polemic (vv. 23-38). The 364-day solar calendar is presented as a covenant obligation, and deviation from it is treated as apostasy equivalent to idolatry. The Feast of Weeks is given patriarchal precedent going back to Noah, making it far older than Sinai. The blood prohibition (vv. 7-14) is presented with unusual intensity — eating blood profanes the land and brings cosmic judgment.
The 364-day calendar does not match astronomical reality (the solar year is ~365.25 days), creating a progressive drift. The text does not address this problem. The fierce condemnation of lunar calendar users would have targeted mainstream Judaism, making this a deeply sectarian text.
Genesis 8:20-9:17 (Noah's sacrifice, rainbow covenant); Genesis 9:4 (blood prohibition); Leviticus 17:10-14 (blood prohibition); Acts 15:20 (Noahide blood rule preserved); 1 Enoch 72-82 (solar calendar); 4Q252 (Flood dating by solar calendar); 11QTemple (364-day calendar in the Temple Scroll).
Ge'ez
On the new moon of the third month he departed from the ark and built an altar on that mountain.
REF And on the new moon of the third month he went forth from the ark, and built an altar on that mountain.
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)doctrinal
Foundational doctrines listed revised — 'leaving' the principles of Christ reframed as 'not leaving' or 'not forsaking'
One of the most important JST footnotes in Hebrews. The KJV 'leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, and going on unto perfection' implies the foundational doctrines (repentance, baptism, etc.) are to be left behind as one matures. The JST revises 'leaving' so these principles are not abandoned but retained and built upon, consistent with Restoration insistence on ongoing ordinance observance.
Ge'ez
He made atonement for the earth and took a young goat and made atonement with its blood for all the guilt of the earth, because everything that had lived on it had been destroyed — except those who were in the ark with Noah.
REF And he made atonement for the earth, and took a kid and made atonement by its blood for all the guilt of the earth; for everything that had been on it had been destroyed, save those that were in the ark with Noah.
Ge'ez
He placed the fat on the altar and took an ox, a goat, a sheep, kids, salt, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. He placed a burnt offering on the altar, poured out a grain offering mixed with oil, sprinkled wine, and scattered frankincense over everything, causing a pleasing aroma to rise, acceptable before the LORD.
REF And he placed the fat thereof on the altar, and he took an ox, and a goat, and a sheep and kids, and salt, and a turtle-dove, and the young of a dove, and placed a burnt sacrifice on the altar, and poured thereon an offering mingled with oil, and sprinkled wine and strewed frankincense over everything, and caused a goodly savour to arise, acceptable before the Lord.
Ge'ez
The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and made a covenant with him: there would never again be a flood to destroy the earth. All the days of the earth, seedtime and harvest would never cease; cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night would not change their order or cease forever.
REF And the Lord smelt the goodly savour, and He made a covenant with him that there should not be any more a flood to destroy the earth; that all the days of the earth seed-time and harvest should never cease; cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night should not change their order, nor cease for ever.
Ge'ez
Increase and multiply on the earth and become numerous upon it, and be a blessing on it. The fear and dread of you I will place upon everything on the earth and in the sea.
REF And you, increase ye and multiply upon the earth and become many upon it, and be a blessing upon it. The fear of you and the dread of you I will inspire in everything that is on earth and in the sea.
Ge'ez
I have given you all the beasts, all winged creatures, everything that moves on the earth, and the fish in the waters — all things for food. Just as I gave you the green plants, I have given you all things to eat.
REF And behold I have given unto you all beasts, and all winged things, and everything that moves on the earth, and the fish in the waters, and all things for food; as the green herbs, I have given you all things to eat.
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)theological
God's regret over making man reframed: divine grief removed or qualified
The KJV states that God 'repented' that he had made man, implying divine regret or error. The JST revision qualifies or redirects this statement so that the grief or regret is not attributed to God in the same anthropomorphic sense, protecting the idea of divine foreknowledge and immutability.
Ge'ez
But flesh with its life — that is, its blood — you shall not eat, for the life of all flesh is in the blood. Otherwise your own lifeblood will be required from every person and every beast.
REF But flesh, with the life thereof, with the blood, ye shall not eat; for the life of all flesh is in the blood, lest your blood of your lives be required at the hand of every man and at the hand of every beast.
Ge'ez
From every person, from every person's brother, I will require human life. Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall his blood be shed, for God made humanity in his own image.
REF At the hand of every man, at the hand of every (man's) brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God made He man.
Ge'ez
Increase and multiply on the earth. And God made a covenant and a sign between himself and Noah.
REF And you, increase and multiply on the earth, and God made a covenant and a sign between himself and Noah.
Ge'ez
He set his bow in the cloud as a sign of the eternal covenant — that there would never again be a flood on the earth to destroy it, for all the days of the earth.
REF And He set His bow in the cloud for a sign of the eternal covenant that there should not again be a flood on the earth, to destroy it all the days of the earth.
Ge'ez
For this reason it is ordained and written on the heavenly tablets that they should celebrate the Feast of Weeks in this month once a year, to renew the covenant every year.
REF For this reason it is ordained and written on the heavenly tablets, that they should celebrate the feast of weeks in this month once a year, to renew the covenant every year.
Ge'ez
This entire festival was celebrated in heaven from the day of creation until the days of Noah — twenty-six jubilees and five weeks of years. Noah and his sons observed it for seven jubilees and one week of years, until the day of Noah's death. After Noah's death his sons abandoned it until the days of Abraham, and they ate blood.
REF And this whole festival was celebrated in heaven from the day of creation till the days of Noah — twenty-six jubilees and five weeks of years: and Noah and his sons observed it for seven jubilees and one week of years, till the day of Noah's death, and from the day of Noah's death his sons did away with (it) until the days of Abraham, and they ate blood.
Ge'ez
But Abraham observed it, and Isaac and Jacob and his children observed it up to your own days. In your days the children of Israel forgot it, until you celebrated it anew on this mountain.
REF But Abraham observed it, and Isaac and Jacob and his children observed it up to thy days, and in thy days the children of Israel forgot it until ye celebrated it anew on this mountain.
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)theological
Lead-us-not-into-temptation petition reframed: God does not lead into temptation
One of the most pastorally significant JST revisions. The KJV petition 'lead us not into temptation' implies God could lead into temptation. The JST revises this to clarify that the prayer is for deliverance or preservation rather than asking God not to do something he would otherwise do. This is consistent with James 1:13 ('God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man').
Ge'ez
Command the children of Israel to observe this festival in all their generations as a commandment to them: one day in the year, in this month, they shall celebrate the festival.
REF And do thou command the children of Israel to observe this festival in all their generations for a commandment unto them: one day in the year in this month they shall celebrate the festival.
Ge'ez
For it is the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Firstfruits. This festival is twofold and of a double nature: celebrate it according to what is written and engraved concerning it.
REF For it is the feast of weeks and the feast of first fruits: this feast is twofold and of a double nature: according to what is written and engraven concerning it, celebrate it.
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)theological
God as 'the blessed and only Potentate' — divine titles revised
The JST footnote adjusts Paul's doxological description of God as Potentate, King of kings, and Lord of lords, providing language more consistent with Restoration Christology's assignment of such titles.
Ge'ez
For I have written it in the book of the first law — in what I have written for you — that you should celebrate it in its season, one day every year. I explained to you its sacrifices so that the children of Israel would remember and celebrate it throughout their generations in this month, one day every year.
REF For I have written it in the book of the first law, in that which I have written for thee, that thou shouldest celebrate it in its season, one day in every year, and I explained to thee its sacrifices that the children of Israel should remember and should celebrate it throughout their generations in this month, one day in every year.
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)theological
'Who only hath immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light' — divine attributes revised
The KJV statement that God 'dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see' appears to contradict JST/Restoration accounts of theophanies (Moses, Joseph Smith). The JST footnote revises the 'no man can see' language to accommodate direct divine encounter within proper covenant conditions.
Ge'ez
On the new moon of the first month, the new moon of the fourth month, the new moon of the seventh month, and the new moon of the tenth month are the days of remembrance and the days of the seasons in the four divisions of the year. These are written and ordained as an eternal testimony.
REF And on the new moon of the first month, and on the new moon of the fourth month, and on the new moon of the seventh month, and on the new moon of the tenth month are the days of remembrance, and the days of the seasons in the four divisions of the year. These are written and ordained as a testimony for ever.
Ge'ez
Noah ordained them for himself as festivals for all generations forever, so that they became a memorial for him.
REF And Noah ordained them for himself as feasts for the generations for ever, so that they have become thereby a memorial unto him.
Ge'ez
On the new moon of the first month he was commanded to build the ark, and on that day the earth became dry and he opened it and saw the earth.
REF And on the new moon of the first month he was bidden to make to himself an ark, and on that (day) the earth became dry and he opened (the ark) and saw the earth.
Ge'ez
On the new moon of the fourth month the openings of the deep below were shut. On the new moon of the seventh month all the openings of the earth's depths were opened and the waters began to drain into them.
REF And on the new moon of the fourth month the mouths of the depths of the abysses beneath were closed. And on the new moon of the seventh month all the mouths of the abysses of the earth were opened, and the waters began to descend into them.
Ge'ez
On the new moon of the tenth month the tops of the mountains became visible, and Noah rejoiced.
REF And on the new moon of the tenth month the tops of the mountains were seen, and Noah was glad.
Ge'ez
For this reason he ordained them for himself as festivals of remembrance forever, and so they are ordained.
REF And on this account he ordained them for himself as feasts for a memorial for ever, and thus are they ordained.
Ge'ez
They are placed on the heavenly tablets, each having thirteen weeks; the memorial passes from one to the next — from the first to the second, from the second to the third, and from the third to the fourth.
REF And they are placed on the heavenly tablets, each had thirteen weeks; from one to another (passed) their memorial, from the first to the second, and from the second to the third, and from the third to the fourth.
Ge'ez
All the days of the commandment will be fifty-two weeks of days, and these complete the entire year. So it is engraved and ordained on the heavenly tablets.
REF And all the days of the commandment will be two and fifty weeks of days, and (these will make) the entire year complete. Thus it is engraven and ordained on the heavenly tablets.
Ge'ez
There is no neglecting this commandment for a single year or from year to year.
REF And there is no neglecting (this commandment) for a single year or from year to year.
Ge'ez
Command the children of Israel to observe the years according to this reckoning — three hundred and sixty-four days — and these will constitute a complete year. They must not disrupt its time by altering its days and its feasts, for everything will occur in them according to their testimony, and they will not skip any day or disrupt any festival.
REF And command thou the children of Israel that they observe the years according to this reckoning — three hundred and sixty-four days, and (these) will constitute a complete year, and they will not disturb its time from its days and from its feasts; for everything will fall out in them according to their testimony, and they will not leave out any day nor disturb any feasts.
Ge'ez
But if they neglect and do not observe the calendar according to his commandment, they will disrupt all their seasons. The years will be thrown out of order, and they will neglect their ordinances.
REF But if they do neglect and do not observe them according to His commandment, then they will disturb all their seasons, and the years will be dislodged from this (order), [and they will disturb the seasons and the years will be dislodged] and they will neglect their ordinances.
Ge'ez
All the children of Israel will forget and will not find the path of the years. They will forget the new moons, the seasons, and the Sabbaths, and they will err regarding the entire order of the years.
REF And all the children of Israel will forget, and will not find the path of the years, and will forget the new moons, and seasons, and Sabbaths, and they will go wrong as to all the order of the years.
Ge'ez
For I know — and from now on I declare it to you — and it is not my own invention. The book lies written before me, and on the heavenly tablets the division of days is ordained, so that they will not forget the covenant feasts and follow the festivals of the nations in their error and ignorance.
REF For I know and from henceforth will I declare it unto thee, and it is not of my own devising; for the book (lieth) written before me, and on the heavenly tablets the division of days is ordained, lest they forget the feasts of the covenant and walk according to the feasts of the Gentiles after their error and after their ignorance.
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)ethical
Turn-the-other-cheek and cloak sayings revised in the discipleship discourse
The JST footnote at this verse refines the radical nonresistance commands, possibly clarifying their scope or framing them within a covenant community context rather than as absolute civil-law instructions.
Ge'ez
For there will be those who carefully observe the moon — and it disrupts the seasons and comes in from year to year ten days too early.
REF For there will be those who will assuredly make observations of the moon — how (it) disturbs the seasons and comes in from year to year ten days too soon.
Joseph Smith Translation (Footnotes)ethical
Give-to-everyone-who-asks command qualified
The JST revision likely adds a qualifier to the absolute giving command — possibly framing it as giving to those in need or those who ask according to right — preventing an unqualified reading that all requests must be met.
Ge'ez
For this reason years will come upon them when they will disrupt the order and make an abominable day a day of testimony, and an unclean day a feast day. They will confuse all the days — the holy with the unclean, the unclean with the holy — because they will err regarding months, Sabbaths, feasts, and jubilees.
REF For this reason the years will come upon them when they will disturb (the order), and make an abominable (day) the day of testimony, and an unclean day a feast day, and they will confound all the days, the holy with the unclean, and the unclean day with the holy; for they will go wrong as to the months and Sabbaths and feasts and jubilees.
Ge'ez
For this reason I command and testify to you so that you may testify to them. For after your death your children will disrupt the calendar, and they will not make the year three hundred and sixty-four days only. For this reason they will go wrong regarding new moons, seasons, Sabbaths, and festivals, and they will eat all kinds of blood with all kinds of flesh.
REF For this reason I command and testify to thee that thou mayst testify to them; for after thy death thy children will disturb (them), so that they will not make the year three hundred and sixty-four days only, and for this reason they will go wrong as to the new moons and seasons and Sabbaths and festivals, and they will eat all kinds of blood with all kinds of flesh.
Ge'ez
Command the children of Israel to observe the ordinances and the commandments, the feasts and the new moons, for they are holy to the LORD.
REF And do thou command the children of Israel and let them observe the ordinances and the commandments, and the feasts and the new moons, for they are holy unto the Lord.
Ge'ez
It is commanded on the heavenly tablets that the children of Israel should observe the Feast of Booths for seven days with joy in the seventh month, acceptable before the LORD — an eternal statute throughout their generations, every year.
REF Behold it is commanded in the heavenly tablets that the children of Israel should observe the feast of booths for seven days with joy, in the seventh month, acceptable before the Lord — a statute for ever throughout their generations every year.
Ge'ez
This has no time limit, for it is ordained forever regarding Israel that they should celebrate it and dwell in booths, set garlands on their heads, and take leafy branches and willows from the stream.
REF And this has no limit of days; for it is ordained for ever regarding Israel that they should celebrate it and dwell in booths, and set wreaths upon their heads, and take leafy boughs, and willows from the brook.
Ge'ez
Abraham observed it, and Isaac and Jacob and their children observed it up to your days. In your days the children of Israel forgot it until you celebrated it anew on this mountain.
REF And Abraham observed it, and Isaac and Jacob and their children observed it up to thy days, and in thy days the children of Israel forgot it till thou didst celebrate it anew on this mountain.
Ge'ez
Command the children of Israel to observe this festival in all their generations as a commandment — seven days every year.
REF And do thou command the children of Israel to observe this festival in all their generations as a commandment to them one week in every year.
Ge'ez
They shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks in this third month, the Feast of Harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year. All the days of the earth and all their appointed times are written on the heavenly tablets, for everything is written on them.
REF And they shall celebrate the feast of weeks in this third month, and the feast of harvest and the feast of ingathering at the end of the year. All the days of the earth, and all their appointed times, are written on the heavenly tablets: for everything is written on them.